We were lucky to catch up with Alfred Tyree recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alfred, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents excelled in nurturing a strong faith foundation for me, fostering my love for music through church involvement, and generously providing instruments for my practice. My mom, particularly, instilled in me a sense of purpose and the belief that I could achieve great things by maintaining a strong faith. I come from a lineage of talented musicians and singers, with my grandmother playing the organ and my mother and her siblings contributing as singers in church—a tradition carried on by me and my cousins today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In 2018, I entered the music and film industry by founding Al Classic Music, LLC—a content creation and music publishing company. Fueled by over 20 years of playing music in church and 15 years of music composition, my specialization lies in writing, composing, arranging, and producing music. Collaborating with a team of skilled musicians and producers with film scoring backgrounds, I aim to create emotionally inspired art that resonates with all facets of life.

What sets me apart is my unique diversity, fostering greater inclusion in both the film and music scenes. I take pride in the cinematic classical sound I craft, aspiring to move and inspire listeners. The release of my 2021 composition, “Who Am I,” accompanied by a short film, marks a milestone. I’m dedicated to delivering more cinematic music and films, aiming to make a positive impact in the dynamic realm of the music industry.

Following the release of ‘Who Am I’ in 2021, I had the privilege to interview for a documentary scoring opportunity on Showtime, reaching the final stages. ‘Who Am I’ which is part of an upcoming cinematic classical project I produced. One notable song, co-written with my brother, was featured on Bravo’s Summer House Martha’s Vineyard, where we performed on the final episode of season one. Inspired by this, my brother and I plan to release an EP, including the Bravo performance song

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known about programs like E-media at the University of Cincinnati College for Conservatory Music earlier in my creative journey. Growing up in a faith-based family, I was steered away from pursuing a creative career. However, discovering the opportunities at CCM, such as learning music production, various software applications, music theory, and utilizing top-notch recording studios, would have significantly enriched my creative process. Pursuing a degree in music production would have made me more independent and credible in the music industry, saving both time and resources compared to hiring external producers and engineers. Nonetheless I’ve been blessed to work with some incredible musicians, producers and engineers in the music industry.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that family connections and relationships in the music industry guarantee success. Despite being part of a music family with valuable connections, I discovered that success doesn’t come from shortcuts. Over the years, I realized the importance of working from the bottom, embracing the humbling and sometimes frustrating aspects of the journey. Understanding that there are no quick paths to success has been a crucial lesson; it has taught me to follow the process diligently, recognizing that time and effort are integral to achieving my goals in the music business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alclassicmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alclassicmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alclassic
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@alclassicmusic

Image Credits
Dana Belle of Sele Media Nate Howell of Songbookphotos Mike Oden YM Images Erica Kay